Many people’s issues in life stem from a low self-esteem or a negative viewpoint of your physical self. This can lead to mental health issues or diseases and become overwhelming after a given time. However, using physical exercise can lead to an improvement of all of these issues of improved quality of life, and allow for a better appreciation of life
How the Body benefits from exercise
The human body can greatly benefit from physical exercise. Not only does it improve day to day activities but it helps with internal functions. From the article “ Rat race” by Chris Ballard, a writer for EBSCO, “Exercise wards off cancer, boosts the immune system and reduces the risks of Alzheimer’s. It helps our microbiome and aids in cognition. It’s more effective for mental health than Prozac or any other SSRI.” The benefit of exercising wasn’t as well known until now, and is still proving to studies that it is highly beneficial. This shows that the understanding of physical exercising has room to grow and expand on the importance it should have in people’s lives. From that same study, they found changes in many different internal systems, and found positive effects within them. “ Exercise had triggered a cascade of cellular and molecular changes, not just in a few organs but in all 19 they studied. The biggest effect was on the adrenal gland, which helps regulate the immune system, blood pressure and metabolism. But they also saw benefits for the gastrointestinal system and the liver—areas previously not associated with exercise.” (Ballard). The continuing theory that exercise improves more in your body’s health than most think. And it could prove to impact issues that would seem obsolete after having regular exercise in people’s lives. Improving internal function also, with the visible benefits aside.
Exercise is a method of improving mental health
A big concern in modern day is the ever growing mental health issues. We have found ways to get around these issues by prescribing pharmaceutical drugs or therapy. However, a new way to treat mental health is with exercising. Within the article “ Physical exercise effects on the brain during COVID-19 endemic: Links between mental and cardiovascular health” by De Sousa, explains that “Anxiety and depression are the most frequently diagnosed neuropsychological disorders. Non-pharmacological and non-conventional interventions, such as physical exercise, are commonly used to treat many people with depression or anxiety. A growing body of scientific evidence indicates that aerobic and resistance training, types of physical exercise, have beneficial effects on physiological and mental health in humans.” The access to physical improvement is healthy for the brain and allows for a non medicine way to improve mental health. The ability for us to improve not only our bodies but minds is key for reaching high life satisfaction levels, and being satisfied with our lives. Which then again ties into our mental health and our perception of ourselves. The way we treat psychological issues are with prescribed drugs, but from the article. “Exercising is used as a non-pharmacological treatment in many chronic diseases.” (Sousa) We are able to use exercise as a way to treat other problems other than physical problems. Expanding this idea will allow people to improve their lives and quality of life. Allowing for an increased heart rate will help clear short-term anxiety as it allows for more blood flow to the brain, helping a person think easier and more rational.
Factors for exercise
People use exercise for other reasons other than treating mental health issues. Some use it to better help them for an upcoming event or a task they have to do. But some use it to train and stress their bodies to improve bodily functions. A physical education teacher and a long term exercise advocate Mr. Marnocha stated ”The best types of exercise are Strength training, and cardiovascular, they affect us by making you Feel better, visually look healthier, and give you energy/confidentants.” Some other reasons people don’t continue exercise is because they don’t enjoy or think of it as a chore. Mr.Maranoche also talks about “ you have to find something you enjoy doing, finding something that’s realistic and fits in your schedule, long-term.” Making exercise enjoyable will benefit your ability to exercise and its overall health benefits. In the article “Physical exercise effects on the brain during COVID-19 pandemic: links between mental and cardiovascular health” by DeSousa it states “it is also known that the regular practice of physical exercise induces beneficial effects in the brain, such as the enhancement in the blood flow to the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex (brain areas related to cognitive functions, memories, and emotions); synapses; neuronal plasticity; neurogenesis; and changes in the morphology of the dendrites.” But increasing daily physical exercise also improves the brain’s overall functional and health. The benefits to your body that are followed from exercising are increased health rate and blood flow, leading to a more developed brain. The developed brain shows improved motor skills and the ability to dissect one’s conflicts and situations with a more rationalized viewpoint. Allowing us to answer the question if your mental health is affected by personal exercise.
Why people shouldn’t neglect exercise
Neglectful tendencies lead to many people neglecting their physical and mental health. “Physical exercise effects on the brain during COVID-19 pandemic: links between mental and cardiovascular health” by DeSousa it refers to “ Reduced level of physical activity also contributes to the development of a sedentary behavior during the quarantine what would also favor the development of several chronic diseases, such as mood disorders, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases.” This shows that limiting your exposure to physical exercise leads to other problems beyond just corporeal health issues. It affects the brain, leading to changes in how it perceives itself and its chemical makeup. The Life-style we live could play a part in why we are lazy or unwilling to exercise. In the article “Rat race”, DeSousa states, “We live in climate-controlled houses, from which we drive climate-controlled vehicles to climate-controlled workspaces where we sit down all day, talking and typing and staring at flashing images on metal boxes.” The lack of the necessity of most people’s lives to exercise is concerning. We don’t live in a place where it’s a regular thing, and that allows for people to think about it or have a need for it. We emphasize in our lives to look calm or not be sweaty. By limiting our needed exercise, our brains don’t function at our best cognitive ability.
The use of physical exercise to improve bodily function and overall health should be in a person’s daily life. The benefits behind exercise are grand while having a low amount of negative effects. Not only will daily life become easier, but your life should improve both within your own mind, and your ability to do activities. We have the ability to get attributes that people want in a pharmaceutical way just by increasing our heart rate. The different types of exercise allows for a larger range of application. Using the information provided throughout the article, find the way you desire to increase your exercise in your life. And reaped the benefits behind it.
